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Марія БровінськаІсторії
13 October 2025, 17:00
2025-10-13
“I drink coffee with cardamom and check Signal every night.” What’s a day like for the president of the most secure messenger, Signal: a day with Meredith Whittaker
Signal messenger president Meredith Whittaker lives between New York and Paris, runs a company at the forefront of digital privacy, and despite her hectic pace, finds time for yoga, books about AI, and coffee with cardamom.
«I joined Signal because I know the founder, Moxie Marlinspike, from our joint open-source project WindSignal,» says Meredith.
Signal messenger president Meredith Whittaker lives between New York and Paris, runs a company at the forefront of digital privacy, and despite her hectic pace, finds time for yoga, books about AI, and coffee with cardamom.
«I joined Signal because I know the founder, Moxie Marlinspike, from our joint open-source project WindSignal,» says Meredith.
Meredith got into tech in 2006 when she got an offer from Google after graduating from liberal arts. There, she founded the Open Research Group, which focused on measurement, privacy, and artificial intelligence.
In 2016, Whittaker co-founded the AI Now Institute at New York University, the first research center to analyze the social and political implications of AI.
She then worked as an advisor to US Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Han on artificial intelligence issues, and in 2022 she headed Signal, an app considered the world’s benchmark for privacy.
A morning that begins with dancing
Whittaker wakes up between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m. First, she has a protein shake and a shower. Then she makes coffee with an AeroPress and a hand grinder, always with cardamom. «While the coffee is brewing, I do some chores around the house, put on some dance music to get my energy up. And I do yoga every day, no exceptions.»
Signal is a completely remote company, so the president works from home. The morning is spent checking email, Signal messages, and making a to-do list.
Focus on AI and security
She reads the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and AI Now digests every morning. Meredith is currently delving into AI agents that she believes could pose a serious privacy threat to Signal users.
She also follows the work of Heidi Hlaaf, the director of research at AI Now, on the security of AI systems. In parallel, she is working on a book about AI and privacy. «My morning is not a self-discipline, but a ritual that keeps me resourceful,» she explains.
Signal Management
Every day, Meredith meets with her assistant and holds a «heartbeat meeting» — a short team synchronization. Once a week — big updates and reports on projects.
After the Signal Gate incident, the company is often approached by journalists and users to understand how Signal differs from WhatsApp or iMessage.
All internal communications are exclusively via Signal Desktop or Signal Mobile. «We work with very sensitive topics, so we hardly use email,» the specialist notes.
Eating without haste
Around 11:00 a.m. — a protein smoothie with a low glycemic index. Throughout the day, she snacks on boiled eggs, kimchi, brown rice, or baked sweet potatoes with avocado and arugula.
The main block of meetings lasts from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM — this is the time for negotiations, brainstorming, and communication with the board of directors.
Evening: podcasts, dinner, yoga
Whittaker cooks dinner between meetings — «in small chunks of time.» He eats between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., listening to music or podcasts. One of his favorites is «Drilled,» by journalist Amy Westervelt, about the history of climate research and the oil industry. «Although it’s not recommended, I often do yoga after dinner. It’s the only time I can.»
The Signal president also responds to messages even at night: «I’m not fanatical, but I feel a responsibility not to leave my people unanswered.»
Night and weekend
She goes to bed around midnight. What exhausts her the most is the «administrator» that drags on: «When a small task turns into an hour of struggling with a buggy interface. And I ask myself: why does so much technology have to be so bad?»
On weekends, Meredith slows down: she goes to farmers markets, cooks, reads, and does personal research. She enjoys yoga workshops, dancing, and opera. «Paris and New York are two gifts. When you leave the house, it feels like you’re unpacking something beautiful. Sometimes I intentionally play the role of a tourist in my own city.»
